Optus chief executive Paul O'Sullivan today disagreed with former Telstra boss Sol Trujillo's remarks that Australia was backward and racist.
Speaking at a Trans-Tasman Business Circle lunch today, O'Sullivan, who described himself as a "proud Australian", said he "could not disagree more strongly" with Trujillo's recent remarks.
"This is the most egalitarian, inclusive and dynamic society I have lived in — an experience reinforced by my frequent travel to the USA on business," the Irish-born Australian said, joining fellow Irish-born Australian, Qantas chief Alan Joyce.
However, when asked by media about Trujillo's performance as Telstra's leader, O'Sullivan declined to share his opinion.
"I don't think it's appropriate for me to judge a colleague. I think the market does that... Second, I think we get too caught up in personalities in the industry," he said.
But the rules of engagement did not extend to the issue of executive remuneration. "It's kind of strange to be introduced as the longest-lasting CEO in the sector. Sadly I won't be introduced as the best ever remunerated CEO in the sector. We may do a satellite link later for that one," he said.
At the opening of his speech, he reminisced that the last time he spoke at the Trans-Tasman in 2005 was when Trujillo had proposed to the government that Telstra build the NBN; or as an Optus colleague had told him, when Trujillo was "around $4 million into his tenure with around $20 million to go".
It won't be long before Optus reign in Telstra and over take them, at least share price wise, I believe. Enter Telstra fans with expletives and carry on.......now.
Optus are making the right moves, getting the likes of Pink to promote them and appeal to the younger consumer and now their CEO is banging the patriotism drum, right into the face of Telstra.
From my personal experiences, most people I know, no longer have Telstra mobiles. About 85% have Optus! But most still have Telstra landlines, although some have Optus and AAPT. Of course we also know people who have a variety of ISP's from Internode, tpg, iinet and others too!
But did you hear that patriot drum Sydney? You are a patriot first and a Telstra supporter second, so you say, so support Optus's CEO. That'll be the day!
I did find it amusing that although O'Sullivan refused to comment on Sol, he still did. By claiming the market will decide. By that I would assume he meant share market and Telstra shares have been decimated, since Sol started.